Eye Exam and Other Rants

Waiting room at the Delaware Eye Institute this morning - my surreptitious photo

Another day, another doctor's appointment. This one my annual eye examination.  

Good news!  I have no significant changes in my prescription. My eyes are basically good, for an old geezer of 76 years old.  My cataracts are "mild" according to my eye doctor. He said I don't need to take action now but that gradually my cataracts will grow and there is nothing I can do about it.  He told me that seeing colors will gradually become dimmer and dimmer and glare will continue to be a greater problem.

Selfie taken of me by me i the holding room of my eye doctor - my eyes were real little this morning as they  that early in the morning - Possum Eyes

Already I don't drive at night except when I return from work at the hotel two nights a week.  And then it's late at night and there is little traffic on the road. My days of driving the ten miles down Route One to Rehoboth Beach for a get together with my gay friends at the Purple Parrot are long gone. Just a fond memory.

Bill waiting for me as I checked out this morning after my eye examination

It's been raining almost nonstop here for the past three days. The forecast is for two more days of rain then the sun will break out.  Just in time for Pat's visit to Deal-where? next Wednesday and our week long visit in Philly.  At least we're not going to have a repeat of a few years ago when two consecutive visits to Philly were rain every day.  

Pat and "Patrick" on one of our many rainy days in Philly

Hopefully sunny days will prevail during our semi-annual visit to the City of Brotherly Love. You know what they always say, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia!"  Oh wait, thats a TV program isn't it?  Of course it isn't filmed in Philadelphia which is why I never watched it. Just for your information it is taped primarily in Los Angeles with a few exterior scenes in Philly. What a pity, Philly is such an interesting city with many interesting venues.  But you know how those lazy TV producers are.  Why go on location when you can tape your show in LA and go home at night?  Of course.  Not that I don't like Los Angeles  but come on folks. Get off your ass and go to Philly if you're going to have a show about Philly. 

That said, have a great day everyone!

Pat and me on one of those rare "Sunny Days In Philadelphia" (Rittenhouse Square area)  (I don't know how these TV producers think they can capture the unique character of Philadelphia on an LA soundstage when Philadelphia has so much to offer)(

Juggling, Trying To Keep Up and Falling Behind

There was a time when I juggled many balls at once. This was years ago when I worked at a bank in Philadelphia. For many years I commuted daily to my job early in morning and arrived home early evening, sometimes later. I thought nothing of that routine.These days I work part-time at a local hotel two nights a week.

I had no problem spending up to two hours a day on that commuter train and working eight or more hours a day. After returning home I took care of running our household and in the longer days of spring and summer, also did all the yard work. 

I managed all this and didn't give it much thought. It was just my daily routine. 

I looked forward to retirement when I could catch up on all the fun stuff like organizing my photos. Reading, yard work and traveling.

So here I am folks, in retirement. I've never been busier in my life. I feel like I don't have enough time to juggle all these new balls in my life.

What are they?  One big thing is all our doctors' appointments. I think I finally got Bill's cardiovascular appointment straightened out. HealthNet, the outside agency that handles the Choice program for the VA told me they made a mistake and duplicated a procedure.  I now await a call for the new appointment. My paper folder grows on this issue.

This week I have another doctor's appointment. This time my annual eye examination on Friday.  

Last week was my dental appointment.  

Last night I attended my HOA board members' meeting. I am the acting secretary.  I just finished recording the minutes of that meeting and sent them out to the vice president for review.

Here I am whining/complaining again. 

After I'm finished with the blog post I have to vacuum our house. A chore that I should have done last week but I was just too tired. Today I go to work at 2:30 pm.

Thank goodness I have something to look forward to.  My Canadian Travel Buddy (Pat) arrives next Wednesday for his annual  visit to "Dela-where?". Pat will spend three days here then we travel to center city Philly for a week long visit to my longtime friend Don McK.  

I may complain about how I sometimes feel overwhelmed by every day responsibilities folks but know this, I am so appreciative for the life I have now. Better this than the alternative. Lonely and depressed. Still, I sometimes feel as if I'm a hamster in a wheel and I'm losing ground. 

Back on the Medical Treadmill

Bill graduates from wound care

Bill graduated from the wound care unit. Now he has to have a cardiovascular test. Of course this will require a new authorization number from HealthNet, which is the outside agency of the VA providing services for veterans using private doctors and medical facilities. 

This morning I hit a Catch-22. I need the authorization number.  They called last week and gave me a phone number to call. I called this morning and I received this message "We're having technical difficulties, please call back later."  Of course they're having "technical difficulties."  

Folks, I am just exhausted jumping over all these hurdles just to get Bill his medical care that he is entitled too. I thought I had the authorization number (wound care) that would apply for this cardiovascular test. But HealthNet called me last week and said he needed a new authorization number. So I call and I encounter "technical difficulties."  I called the cardiovascular unit this morning and they told he "We're ready to go." I asked them if they had his authorization number and they said they did and read it to me.  It's the same number as for his wound care.  So now my question is do I keep this appointment tomorrow?  If we don't have a proper authorization number then we have to pay the bill ourselves.  We've already been stuck once with a bill. This for Bill's eye examination. There was an authorization number but I didn't have it and paid the bill.  Then I got the authorization number and called HealthNet.  But they wouldn't pay the bill because they didn't "back date" bills.  

I know this isn't one of my more interesting posts. In fact it is very boring but I just had to vent. My question is how would Bill handle this if I wasn't his caregiver?  Answer is he wouldn't. Wonder how many vets are in that situation?  

Mother's Day 2018

The last time my Mother and "her goys" were together, September 4 2005 for a photo shoot at J. C. Pennys at the Exton Mall, Pennsylvania - our Mother was our best friend - we were so lucky!

My Mother died September 16, 2010. I was privileged to have her in my life for eight-six years. 

Today on Mothers' Day I again remember how much I miss her. I remember how lucky I was to have her for my Mother.

Growing up I thought all children had mothers like my mother. A Mother who loved us (me and my two younger brothers) unconditionally. 

A mother who devoted her whole existence to our well being.  

Oh sure, my Mother wasn't perfect but where she was perfect was in her total love and caring for "her boys."  

Me with Mom December 2007

As I became older I was surprised to discover that not all my friends had mothers like mine. I even encountered friends who didn't like their mothers. Mothers who didn't care for them.  I have to admit at first this totally confused me, just didn't compute. How could anyone grow up with a mother who didn't care?

My Mother loved received her annual Mothers' Day card from "her boys."  Thus this time of year I feel a sense of emptiness that I didn't shop for that special, big, sparkly Mothers' Day card for my Mom.  

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

(left to right) Me, my brother John and Mom 1962

Visitor From Nebraska

"Randy" from Nebraska (at the Purple Parrot in Rehoboth Beach)

This past week Randy from Nebraska stopped by our small town here in Delaware for a visit. 

The last time I saw Randy was at the Bloogerpalooza in 2015.  

Randy at Yesteryear's Photos 2015

Nice of him to stop by for a visit during his road trip to the East. 

As is my wont, I took this opportunity to contact some friends and arrange for an old time photo shoot. This photo shoot almost didn't come off because after arranging to meet everyone in Rehoboth Beach, the place I go for old time photo shoots was closed!  I had to do some quick thinking.  I crossed the street to check to see if the other old time photo place was open. It wasn't!  But there was a phone number to call.  I called and the owner said she would be down in about twenty minutes.  

Howard as Dance Hall Girl

She arrived on time and we had our memorable photo shoot. Many thanks to my longtime friend Howard for posing as the Dance Hall Girl. Howard was perfect although he did express regret I didn't remind him to bring his wig. Howard dresses up nice. 

A motley crew for sure!

After the photo shoot we had lunch at the Purple Parrot, one of my favorite restaurants in Rehoboth Beach. I used to go there all the time with friends about five years ago.  Unfortunately, I don't go there now because many of those friends have died and others have moved on. It was nice to go back to my old haunt.

I asked a nice stranger to take this photo of us before we had lunch at the Purple Parrot - great photo!

Friends are so important in everyday quality in our lives. I always try to memorialize these gatherings by taking photos or have photos taken.

Ready to order lunch - a cute Russian waiter took this picture - see how happy we were?

Randy spent two days visiting. We went out to dinner a few times. My friends Mike and Bob took him for a visit to Cape Henlopen State Park. 

Randy left Thursday morning to continue his road trip on the East Coast. His next destination was Connecticut. Safe driving Randy and thanks for stopping by for a visit. A grand time was had by all and we have the photos to prove it!

Randy's day of departure in Lewes - pictured from left to right Bob, Mike, Randy and ME!

Farmer's Market

Ah, the season of the local farmer's markets are upon us here in southern Delaware.

I LOVE fresh veggies and fruit. That is one of the glorious benefits of living here. 

My favorite local fruit and veggie stand is in Milton. However, it doesn't open Memorial Day.  

We have three local farmer's markets here in Sussex County. One a week on different days there is one in Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and Milton. I've attended two of them but didn't go back. The parking was very difficult if not impossible. Those farmer's markets are good for folks who live in those towns but not someone like me who lives outside those towns.  We live in a development off of Route One (Coastal Highway), not in one of those towns where the farmer's markets are held.

Friday afternoon one of our neighbors stopped by and gave us a jar of fresh honey from the Milton Farmer's Market.  I told him I would like to go to that farmer's market but don't want to content with the parking hassles.  He told me the farmer's market is now at a new location, the Dogfish Brewery campus. Lots of free parking!  

I told Bill "Let's go!"  What a pleasant surprise, finally a farmer's market outliers like me can go too. What a delightful experience!  I bought a couple quart containers of strawberries that actually taste like strawberries.  Of course they were from North Carolina (the seller said "Straight up this morning from North Carolina") but till, real strawberries. Not those giant hard strawberries from California or Mexico that have no strawberry taste.  And that reminds me, fresh tomatoes. Can't wait. I already have my plants in the ground. Hey, maybe I can set up a stand at the farmer's market! 

Medical Update

My VA doctor, best doctor I ever had

Good news folks! Bill's legs are getting better. What a relief!  

Tomorrow he has a followup with his doctor at the wound care center. Yes, we have another doctors' appointment. 

Yesterday I had my appointment with my doctor at the VA. Every six months I take lab tests.  My main concern is checking my PSA level.  Good news, my PSA score is still down (.14).  

Remember I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 203 when my PSA score was 8.4.  After much consideration as to what kind of treatment I would choose, I opted for seed implants. So far that appears to be the right decision, for me.  I didn't want to choose removal of my prostate because of the chance of developing some serious side effects. I also choose not to get exterior radiation of estrogen treatments. I don't think I would do well with hot flashes.  Of course I have some side effects from the seed implants, the details of which I won't go into here, but most of my "functions" are sill in place and, this is important, I new "pee like a teenager."

Net week I have an appointment with my urologist to go over the results of my CRT scan.  Kidney stones. Hopefully if I have any more kidney stones, I'll get a warning and take action to prevent ever going through another painful kidney stone episode.

These days folks I can feel my age. Every morning I get up my body is stiff with arthritis. 

Every day, about this time of day, I wind down like an old clock. No more party time for this boy.

And, very important, every day I have to have a nap of at least one hour, or more.  

But I am thankful that my health is basically good and I don't have any serious issues like so many others my age.  And how lucky is Bill to be approaching age 90 and still in basically good health?  

Have a great day folks!